The city of Pune (India) is located in the western part of the Deccan Plateau, at a distance of 150 km from Mumbai (southeast direction). The territory of the village is quite hilly, and in the center two rivers merge – Mutha and Mula. In the suburbs (in the north-west) the rivers Indrayani and Pavana flow. Since the city is located in a seismically active zone, earthquakes occur here. Despite the possible force majeure circumstances prepared by nature, tourists from all over the world come to Pune every year. What attracts travelers about the features of holidays in India, read our review.
general information
Pune is a city in India located at an altitude of 560 meters above sea level. The village is part of the state of Maharashtra. The first mention of settlements in Pune appeared two thousand years ago. By the 16th century, the city was considered an important trade and economic point, since it had a favorable geographical position – at the crossroads of important trade routes. The situation did not change with the advent of the British – the city flourished and soon became a major industrial center, and in the near future – an educational center.
The city of Pune is famous not only for historical and architectural attractions. The Osho International Commune has been operating here, since 1949 Marath University has been accepting students, and the Virology Research Center has gained recognition not only in India, but also in many countries.
The old part of the city of Pune occupies the territory between Shanvard Palace and the Raji Dinkar Kelkara Museum.
Interesting fact! On the palace balconies, musicians play during the holidays. This is an old tradition that has been lost, but modern authorities have revived it.
In the new part of Pune, industry, the automotive sector are developed, motorcycles and products of the Mercedes-Bens brand are produced. Actively developing information technology.
An airport of international importance was built near the city, from Pune you can get to all the major cities of India by rail. In addition, multi-lane, modern highways were built between the settlements, movement along them reduces the road by several hours.
Good to know! The official language is Marathi, but the population also speaks English and Hindi.
sights
Of course, modern Pune is, first of all, the resort city of Osho – the center where people come for meditation, relaxation and rest. The Koregaon-Park complex occupies more than 20 hectares of land, the territory is overgrown with dense vegetation – forests, shrubs. Initially, this place was intended for the rest of aristocrats and representatives of the nobility, but today the doors of the Center are open to all comers.
Important! If you plan to relax in the commune longer than the usual tour, you will need two photos for your passport, a medical certificate with the results of an HIV test.
The attraction is located 26 km from the city of Pune, on top of an almost sheer cliff. The easiest way to visit the fort is to purchase a day trip from the city. Of course, you can come here on your own, by bus number 49, departure daily from 6-30 to 21-30 with an interval of 1 hour. The point of departure is the Swargate stop.
A difficult two-hour climb leads from the foot to the top of the hill, but you can drive up by transport. It is noteworthy that the walls of the fort, whose height is 12 m, are still inhabited by several families, they offer tourists yogurt, tea and traditional Indian sweets. During the ascent to the summit, the tourist walks a distance of 2.7 km and rises to a height of 600 m.
Important! Outside, the fort looks much more impressive than inside, so if you don’t have much time for sightseeing, just go for a walk around the fort.
What to see:
- Monument to the maharatian commander Tanaji;
- burial place of Rajaram Chhatrapati;
- military stables;
- temple of the goddess Kali;
- brewery;
- ancient gate.
Interesting fact! The fort was discovered by restorers under an impressive layer of concrete, paint, cement.
An attraction in India is known as a place of struggle for the country’s independence, here was the leader of the rebel army Tilak, whom Mahatma Gandhi met.
Cadets of the National Defense Academy regularly undergo training in Sinhagad, and they run from full school to the fort in full uniform and equipment.
Important! The fort is prohibited meat dishes, alcoholic beverages, noisy parties and smoking.
Visits to the fort are every day from 5-00 to 18-00.
Balaji or Lord Venkateswara is the god of wealth, prosperity, success. For a visit, it is best to choose a weekday when there are no queues and you can enjoy peace and quiet. The temple covers an area of 4 hectares and is surrounded by picturesque hills. The entrance to the territory is decorated with beautiful carvings.
Interesting fact! The Pune attraction in India is an exact copy of the Tirupati Temple.
According to legend, Lord Venkateschvara is one of the forms of the god Vishnu, his name in translation means – destroying sins. The deity is able to fulfill any desire, you can visit the temple and turn to Venkatesvara every day from 5-00 to 20-00.
Locals note that the temple is very clean, well-groomed, located an hour from Pune in the direction of Mumbai (on the Bangalore highway). And everyone here is offered a free lunch. By the way, there are two more temples nearby, so one day you can plan a visit to all three temples.
For the comfort of visitors, parking is equipped, there are shoe racks, left-luggage offices for personal belongings and valuables.
The attraction is right in the center of Pune in India, but it is incredibly quiet, calm, clean and tidy. The Vedic Culture Center is open to all comers, it is the largest temple in Pune, which covers an area of 2.5 hectares.
What to see:
- Radha Krishna Mandir;
- multifunctional hall;
- a room where free food is distributed;
- Balaji Temple;
- gardens and recreation areas;
- conference rooms.
The project is aimed at an audience of different ages and social status. For visitors, educational, social and educational programs are being developed that contribute to the comprehensive development of people. There are statues of Krishna in the large prayer hall.
The educational institution is located in a picturesque place, the entrance inside is limited, since the building is a department of the Ministry of Defense. If you want to go inside, you need to order permission in advance on the academy’s website. It is also possible to visit the attraction on Sunday or holidays.
The academy trained the best representatives of the armed forces of India. The surrounding area is well-kept, clean and beautiful. By the way, the locals are very proud of the institution. It is believed that it is here that boys become men. Not far from the academy there are beautiful lakes, Peacock Bay, where cadets study. There are museums in the educational institution, memorials are open, and the library has more than 100 thousand printed publications.
If you want to see one of the most luxurious architectural monuments in India, be sure to visit the Aga Khan Palace. It was thanks to the Sultan that people in the city of Pune were provided with work and money by the population, which at the time of the reign of Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III was on the verge of poverty. Around the palace is a beautiful garden.
There is an attraction on Pune Nagar Road, next to the Figerald Bridge. In the second half of the 20th century, the headquarters of the national independence movement was located here. Today in the palace there is a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, his wife and personal assistant. In addition, the museum contains the remains of Gandhi.
Practical Information:
- Entrance – 100 rupees or $ 1.40;
- work schedule – every day from 9-00 to 18-00, lunch break from 12-00 to 13-00.
A landmark in India delights in architecture. This is one of the iconic buildings in Pune, built in the early 18th century for the residence of the Peshwas (Prime Minister) Badzhirao I. Unfortunately, in 1828 the building was badly damaged by a fire, so you can only guess about its former greatness. Only the walls and gates of the fort were saved from the fire. Today, light and music shows are held on the territory of the attraction. Tourists can only admire the ruins and visit vibrant shows.
Practical information:
- located in the city, the nearest public transport stops are Shaniwar Wada Kasba Peth Police Chowki and Shanivarwada;
- the cost of visiting is 125 rupees;
- work schedule – every day from 9-30 to 17-30, from 19-30 to 20-10 and then from 20-30 to 21-10.
Great place to organize a picnic in the rainy season. Of course, there are no outstanding sights, but their absence is more than compensated by the picturesque nature and beautiful landscapes. Only in the rainy season, you can see hundreds of waterfalls here.
If you evaluate the pass from the point of view of tourist vacations, this is a wonderful place for travelers who are short of money. In the immediate vicinity of the pass there is a small hotel and camping. If you travel on your own, it is impossible to get lost, because the only road leads to the pass. It is not necessary to take food with you; along the way you will see many small eateries. The safety of tourists is provided by the police.
The attraction is called Pune Okayama or the Garden of Friendship. The entire park provides water for a single canal. The park territory is small, it is forbidden to enter the lawns here. In the garden you can see different landscapes, and if you go up to the bridge located in the very center of the park, you can easily see colorful fish swimming in a pond.
Interesting fact! The garden is named for Pu La Deshpande, a writer from Maharashtra.
Practical information:
- entrance fee – 5 rupees;
- you cannot come to the garden with your food;
- paid parking is organized near the entrance;
- there is a free children’s playground;
- Photography and video are prohibited.
The most famous shopping street in the city of Pune in India. It is better to come here on foot, because it is simply impossible to find a free place for parking a car. The street is busy at any time of the year or day, here you can buy almost everything – clothes and shoes, jewelry and accessories, products, drinks, souvenirs, cosmetics, household items.
Good to know! Traditionally, the prices of goods are called inflated, so buyers boldly trade and often manage to buy what they want at a lower cost.
People come here to enjoy the special charm of Indian culture and traditions, but be careful – scammers often use the fact that tourists are passionate about goods and steal wallets, and the goods are not always of high quality.
Especially lively on Lakshi Road on weekends and evenings. Locals call Lakshmi Survival Street, it starts at Alka Talkis Square and runs along residential areas. The length of the shopping districts is almost 4 km. Wholesale and retail shops operate here, the assortment changes every season.
Of course, attractions are not the only purpose of a trip to the city of Pune in India. People come here to enjoy nature, take a walk in the surroundings, visit the mountains of Bhuleshvara, visit the Mahabaleshwar station. The city has quite a rich nightlife, until the morning there are discos, restaurants and bars.
Accommodation in Pune
The city is divided into areas:
- Baner is an actively developing suburb, nearby is a park and a sports complex, a convenient location for the train station for those planning a trip to Mumbai;
- Deccan is a cultural district with many theaters, galleries and movie theaters;
- Shivaji Nagar – in this area are the railway and bus stations;
- Camp is one of the greenest areas in the city. Here are concentrated elite offices and shopping centers;
- Koregaon Park is the best suburb with many restaurants;
- The Peths – an ancient district with narrow streets;
- Kothrud – the area is located around the Karve highway, there are many restaurants, educational institutions and shopping centers;
- Pashan is a beautiful, picturesque area with modern residential complexes built among picturesque hills;
- The districts Aundh, Kalyani Nagar, Kharadi, Viman Nagar, Hadapsar, Mundhwa and Pimpri Chinchwad are actively expanding and building up, IT firms and other large companies are moving here.
Cost of living in Pune:
- double room in a 3-star hotel – from $ 10 per day;
- for the same price you can rent apartments from local residents;
- Accommodation in a hostel will cost from $ 5 per day;
- rent a one-room apartment for a month in the central areas of the city – $ 200, in the suburbs – $ 130.
Weather and climate when it’s best to come
In the Indian city, the climate is quite pleasant for European tourists. There are three seasons – summer, winter and monsoon. In the summer months, the air warms up to +42 degrees, the hottest in April, but the heat is easily tolerated thanks to the wind and the shade from the trees.
The peak of the rainy season occurs in May, the weather at this time is cloudy. In winter, the daytime temperature is 25-28 degrees, night – 5-8 degrees.
Important! Since Pune is located on a hill, it is cooler at night here than in other cities of India, which are lower.
All prices on the page are for September 2019.
Interesting facts and useful tips.
Do you know that:
- Pune police recognized as the most reliable in India;
- 40% of the city is covered by forests;
- the second name of Pune is Oxford East, since there are many educational institutions, and the city is also called the fashionable capital of Asia.
What a tourist needs to know:
- Do not buy drinks with ice and drink only bottled water;
- there is no taxi in the city, it is replaced by rickshaws, the cost of the trip needs to be discussed in advance;
- in India in general, and in Pune in particular, they do not like dollars; it is better to pay with local currency;
- shops and large shopping centers begin to work only after 10-00;
- Fresh vegetables and fruits must be peeled before eating.
What to bring as souvenirs:
- spices;
- fabric items;
- essential oils;
- tea.
The city of Pune (India) is mostly youth, but it is also great for active and spiritual relaxation. The multinational city welcomes tourists from all over the world.
Walking along the noisy streets of Pune, visiting the cafe:
